First-Time Buyers FAQ

What should I buy?

Shop our Top Picks to find our most popular items. You may also call to speak with our knowledgeable Sales Department at (800) 375-9006 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET) Monday – Thursday or 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET) Friday.

How do I pay for my order?

We accept:

Credit card

APMEX accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express

PayPal

This payment method can only be used on web orders.

Checks (personal/certified/cashier’s) or money orders through the mail (payment instructions)

You will be sent an email confirmation once your payment has been received.

Have you received my payment?

We will send an email confirmation when your payment is processed, so please check your email for this notification. That email will also inform you when we expect to ship your order.

If you prefer, you may log in to your account to see if we are still awaiting payment or if your payment has been processed.

What is the status of my order?

You may log in to your account to see if we are still awaiting payment for your order, if your order is paid for but not yet shipped, or if it has been shipped. If your order has shipped, tracking information for your package is also available in your account.

We will also contact you by email when we receive your order, confirm your payment and ship your order. Your ship confirmation email has package tracking information as well.

Can I cancel my order? The market changed and I want the new lower price.

You can, however your order is a binding contract with APMEX to purchase your metals at the locked in prices. By cancelling the order, you are subject to a $35 cancellation fee and responsible for any market loss. For more information, please see our Market Loss Policy.

What are the different Precious Metals products?

Precious Metals are traded in three forms: bars, coins and rounds.

Bars are produced by private mints, can be easily stored and are an easy way to accumulate more metal for your dollar. Common weights range from 1 oz to 100 oz, though smaller and larger may be minted.

Coins come from sovereign mints and carry a face value. They offer a collectibility factor that bars and rounds do not. Common weights range from 1/20 oz to 1 oz, though they may be produced up to 1 kilogram (32.15 oz).

Rounds appear similar to coins, though they have no face value, and can be minted by government or private mints. Common weights range from 1/2 oz up to 5 oz, though smaller and larger may occasionally be minted.

Why is Gold so expensive?

Gold, like any other commodity, gets its price from the law of supply and demand. Since Gold is a rare commodity, the global supply is limited to what exists and what can be mined and refined, often at great expense. Meanwhile, there are a number of drivers of global demand:

Gold is used widely in jewelry.

Gold can be seen as an “alternative currency”.

Central banks buy Gold to help support their national economies.

Individuals buy Gold to hold as investments.

How is the price of Precious Metals determined?

There are two aspects of Precious Metals price that you should know:

Spot is the current market price of the metal, which is always changing (just like a normal stock changing minute-by-minute throughout the day).

Premium is the additional cost of a Precious Metals item above the spot price. This includes cost for fabrication, distribution and a minimal dealer fee. Rare coins carry a high premium due to collectible value, while rounds and bars carry the lowest premium since they tend to lack collectibility.

When you are looking to buy products strictly for the metal content, it is important to buy your Precious Metals products as close to the current spot price as possible so you can avoid relying on a huge price swing to see a return if you decide to sell your product. When buying numismatic (collectible) products, it is important to understand the ins and outs of the collectibles market to avoid overpaying for an item.

Why should I invest in Precious Metals?

The value of the dollar (and investments attached to the dollar, like stocks and bonds) has been on the decline. Meanwhile, the value of Precious Metals is not dependent on the dollar, and in fact, generally increases when the value of the dollar decreases. Similarly, Precious Metals can never completely lose their value.

Where should I store my physical Gold and Silver?

There are several options when it comes to storing your investments. You may choose to store your investments at home or in a safe deposit box. APMEX has supplies such as air-tite holders and capsules that will keep your products safe in either location. We also offer Citadel Global Depository Services, a high-security private storage facility for your Gold and Silver products, managed by Brink's, one of the world's leading security companies. Read more about the benefits of storing with Citadel, a wholly owned subsidiary of APMEX.

Can I sell my products easily when I’m ready?

Owning Precious Metals is a long term investment, but when the time comes to liquidate, APMEX is here. You can call us at 80(800) 375-9006 to get a free quote. Learn the simple steps to selling to APMEX.